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in·ward | \ ˈin-wərd 
\
\Definition of inward
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : situated on the inside : inner
2a : of or relating to the mind or spirit
inward peace
b : absorbed in one's own mental or spiritual life : introspective
3 : marked by close acquaintance : familiar
4 : directed toward the interior
inward
adverb\ ˈin-wərd \
\variants:
or inwards \ ˈin-wərdz \
\Definition of inward (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : toward the inside, center, or interior
2 : toward the inner being
inward
nounDefinition of inward (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : something that is inward
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Examples of inward in a Sentence
Adjective
moved towards the inward room for more privacy
he's more inward with the president than most members of the cabinet Adverb
The window faces inward toward the courtyard.
He turned his attention inward.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective This is only one example of a widespread inward push towards supporting domestic over foreign brands.
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Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, "U.S. brands think they understand China’s market, but a new report says they don’t," 17 Jan. 2020 As Europe became more secular and Christianity took an inward turn, Dr. Metz asked the church to rethink its role in society.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Johann Baptist Metz, one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century and a pioneer of Jewish-Christian dialogue in the aftermath of the Holocaust, died Dec. 2 in Münster, Germany. He was 91.," 12 Dec. 2019 The European Union tightened its screening of inward investment in April.
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The Economist, "Japan’s new investment rules risk scaring off foreign investors," 26 Oct. 2019 Factions in Beijing – including Premier Li Keqiang and Xi himself – have long favored reform around IP and inward investment that would meet many U.S. demands.
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Washington Post, "The U.S. and China Are Living in Different Universes," 23 Sep. 2019 The inward flip of Liu's hair also warrants mentioning, thanks to the look's recent trendiness.
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Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, "Lucy Liu Has Officially Joined the Bob Haircut Club," 18 Oct. 2019 Because the inward force generated by pressure remains the same, however, the wind near the ground streams into the fire tornado.
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Jason M. Forthofer, Scientific American, "Can Scientists Predict Fire Tornadoes?," 20 Nov. 2019 The gravitational force is inwards ... but the inward direction is in opposite directions for ingoing and outgoing streams.
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David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build a Wormhole," 27 Aug. 2019 The high cost of housing is now a barrier to inward investment, to emigrants returning with skills, to people hoping to start families and who want to move.
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New York Times, "Housing Crisis Grips Ireland a Decade After Property Bubble Burst," 8 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb The lights feature tall, thin vertical light blades for running lights and even longer rear light blades that bend inward at the midpoint to reduce the appearance of bulkiness.
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Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, "2021 Cadillac Escalade loads up on tech and comfort to fend off Lincoln and Mercedes," 5 Feb. 2020 Firefighters are angry now, and some of that anger should be directed inward.
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Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Fire union antics produced nothing but disruption," 29 Jan. 2020 This tug-of-war thinned dense spots as excess matter spilled outward and thickened thin spots as material rushed inward.
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Quanta Magazine, "How Ancient Light Reveals the Universe’s Contents," 28 Jan. 2020 Now the company has abruptly folded inward, turning back into a bare-bones media startup after decades of growth.
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Kate Knibbs, Wired, "CollegeHumor Helped Shape Online Comedy. What Went Wrong?," 28 Jan. 2020 Some Arab leaders turned their focus inward to domestic security and economic problems.
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Ben Hubbard, New York Times, "A Muted Arab Response to Trump’s Mideast Peace Plan," 28 Jan. 2020 Skin and muscles swelled, driving moisture from soft tissue inward toward the bone.
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Colin Barras, Science | AAAS, "Studies reveal gruesome last moments of Pompeii volcano’s victims," 23 Jan. 2020 His top priority as CEO will be to look inward to the company’s issues and cultural rifts and to spend meaningful time in its Seattle manufacturing hub, said a person close to the board.
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Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, "New Boeing CEO faces daunting task," 19 Jan. 2020 Surveillance footage from Union Intermediate School's gym in Sampson County, North Carolina, shows a group of children playing when one of the building’s walls suddenly appears to explode inward.
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Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, "'I was praying': Video shows students running after wind blows roof off elementary school gym," 15 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ski touring is about slowing down, turning inwards, and tuning into nature.
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Jen Murphy, Sunset Magazine, "Earn Your Burn on a Secret Backcountry Skiing Adventure in Colorado," 13 Jan. 2020 On average the three outer giants flung planetesimals inwards, towards the sun.
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The Economist, "How the planets got their spots," 18 Dec. 2019 After 30 minutes, the main structural cross beams began to fail, and after two hours parts of the boat collapsed inwards.
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Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, "Most of 95 people killed in Kiribati ferry disaster died from hunger, dehydration and hypothermia, inquiry finds," 9 Oct. 2019 Blow dry the hair smooth with a slight inward bend at the ends.
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Kristin Corpuz, Billboard, "Get The Look: How to Create Chic Hairstyles Like Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande & More For New Year's Eve," 23 Dec. 2019 And the walls of the house of study began to collapse inwards.
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National Geographic, "Episode 1: Digging up Disaster," 15 Oct. 2019 The gravitational force is inwards ... but the inward direction is in opposite directions for ingoing and outgoing streams.
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David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build a Wormhole," 27 Aug. 2019 Instead, simply by turning all the drama inward, Chapter Two’s second trailer ramps up the scares.
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Aja Romano, Vox, "Watch: It Chapter Two returns with an eerie new trailer," 18 July 2019 Use painters tape, spend a little more on quality brushes, and fill in from the edges, painting inwards, to get the best results.
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Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "How to Paint a Wall Mural," 25 June 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inward.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for inward
inward
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of inward
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of or relating to a person's mind or spirit
: directed or moving toward the inside of something
inward
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of inward (Entry 2 of 2)
: toward the inside of something
: toward the mind or spirit
See the full definition for inward in the English Language Learners Dictionary
inward
adjectivein·ward | \ ˈin-wərd \
\Kids Definition of inward
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : toward the inside or center
an inward curve
2 : of or concerning the mind or spirit
He felt inward joy.
inward
adverbvariants:
or inwards \ -wərdz \
Kids Definition of inward (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : toward the inside or center
The door opens inward.
2 : toward the mind or spirit
I turned my thoughts inward.
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Time Traveler for inward
The first known use of inward was before the 12th century
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